I have received many gifts throughout my life. But when I think about the best gift I've ever received, I realize that it isn't something wrapped in paper and ribbon. It wasn't bought or could be taken away. Instead, it was given to me by a teacher decades ago when I was seven years old. I can honestly say that this gift has changed the course of my life forever. It was the gift of reading.
Unlike my children, I started learning to read fairly late according to today's standards. I was seven years old and already in my first year of primary school. At that time, the phonic reading system was unknown, at least not in Malaysia, and we learned to read using traditional methods such as syllables or combinations of vowels and consonants. My parents were from the Boomers generation and had no idea how to teach reading to my siblings and me. Education was solely the realm of school teachers.
His name was Mr. Vincent. He was my class teacher (homeroom teacher) and also taught us Malay. Malay is my second language. I don't know his last name, but I remember how he looked and his patience with more than thirty students who didn't know how to read or write. I was just a child, sitting in a classroom, struggling to string letters together. I had not yet realized that literacy was the key to unlocking an entire world. Over the course of months, and through what I believe were endless frustrations for Mr. Vincent, everything began to make sense. The first word that made it click together in my brain was “ayam” or chicken. It is a combination of the vowel “a,” consonant “y,” vowel “a,” and consonant “m.” Slowly the letters turned into words, words into sentences, and suddenly books were no longer mysteries; they were doors waiting to be opened.
My Primary 5 class photo. I transferred to another school and no longer in touch with Mr. Vincent.
I think of him every year on May 16, Malaysia’s Teachers’ Day. I wonder if he ever knew the impact he had on me. Or if he realized that by teaching a young girl to read, he was giving her more than just a skill. Mr. Vincent was giving me access to knowledge, imagination, and a lifelong love for words. Because of him, I have spent my life reading, writing, learning, and growing in ways I never could have imagined back then.
Teachers rarely know the full extent of their influence. They plant seeds in young minds, often never seeing how far those seeds will grow. Even if Mr. Vincent never read this, I want to acknowledge him. I want to say:Thank you. Thank you for your patience, for your belief in a young girl’s potential, and for opening the doors of literacy that have shaped everything I am today.
To anyone who has ever had a teacher like Mr. Vincent, a teacher who made a lasting impact and shaped the way you see the world, I hope you take a moment to remember them. Be grateful for them and maybe even find a way to say thank you.
Because sometimes, the greatest gifts aren’t things. They’re the people who take the time to teach, to guide, and to believe in us before we even know how to believe in ourselves.
And personally for me, reading became more than just a skill. It became a gateway to expressing my thoughts and to finding my voice through writing. Every word I put on paper today is a reminder of that first lesson in literacy. It's a reminder that one teacher’s patience can shape a lifetime of words.
A handwritten draft of this post.
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I am happy that now a days we have that Teacher's Day celebraion. A celebration that is meant for our teachers who made big impact in our life's. Our Dear teacher's that help to shape us on what we are now. Teacher's who taught us not only reading with comprehension but also on how to count,how to solved difficult math problems, but also how to become a good citezens,good individual's and teaching us to become a better person. Most specially teaches us to prepare what lies ahead in the future.We have favorites teachers before while we are still a student probably our teacher who is not hard on the student and can undertsand our situation. Reading your post makes me remember my teacher who called me by my nickname, the only teacher that i share my struggles and hardships in life.THE only teacher who makes me realized that i fallen inlove to my friend and she caught me through our final exam because during our exam i only wrote my name in the test paper but i don't answered any questions.Out of the blue she called me to her office because she was our school principal and then she handed me my test paper.i was shocked my score was ZERO..THEN she talked to me asking what's the problem?..she can't believed my score because on our medterm i got perfect score ..luckily she gave me chance to retake the exam but advised me to stay focused so i can answer well my test paper..
I agree, teachers should be respected because without them, no other professions could exist in this world. I'm glad you had a wonderful teacher to guide you during your growing up years 🙏
Agree with you, we must be grateful to our teacher, they have a big part what we are now today. I started school at 7 years old, I learned to read at school, nobody taught me at home.
I agree. My parents didn't know how to teach us reading, but it's so different now. Children are expected to read before they start their formal schooling, and parents have no choice but to be equipped to teach.
I also had a great memories with my kindergarten teacher, and she was something that every students could run to in every circumstances. She may not be around anymore, but the knowledge that she taught me still lingers on my mind and her kindness buried down deep in my heart. Just like you, I'm very grateful and their efforts are much appreciated 'til today ❣️. I'm sure that Mr. Vincent is so proud of you for who you are and what you are as a person.
I'm glad you had a wonderful teacher during your formative years 🙏
Indeed, teachers leave a big impact and influence on the minds of learners, especially the young ones. Alongside with our parents, they help us develop basic skills of learning. They also instill in us proper behavior thereby preparing us to be responsible citizens of our country. Maybe someday your paths may cross. When it comes, it would be wonderful to express your gratitude to him.
You are right and hopefully if Mr. Vincent is still around, I'd be glad to thank him personally 🙏
That would be wonderful! I see some reunions of long lost people from their past that was made possible by looking their names up in some social media platform. Or maybe a classmate is still in touched with Mr. Vincent. Best of luck on your search!
⋆ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ғᴏʀ sᴏᴜᴛʜᴇᴀsᴛ ᴀsɪᴀɴ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ᴏɴ ʜɪᴠᴇ
⋆ sᴜʙsᴄʀɪʙᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsᴇᴀɴ ʜɪᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ
⋆ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsᴇᴀɴ ʜɪᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ ᴠᴏᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʀᴀɪʟ
⋆ ᴅᴇʟᴇɢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʟɪɴᴋs 25 ʜᴘ⇾50 ʜᴘ⇾100 ʜᴘ⇾500 ʜᴘ⇾1,000 ʜᴘ